The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon (the bony prominence at the very tip of

the elbow), the elbow pit, the lateral and medial epicondyles, and the elbow joint. The name for the
elbow in Latin is cubitus, and so the word cubital is used in some elbow-related terms, as in cubital
nodes for example. The elbow is specific to humans and other primates.[1] The elbow joint[2] is the is
the synovial hinge joint[3] between the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna in the
forearm which allows the forearm and hand to be moved towards and away from the body.[4] The
superior radioulnar joint shares the joint capsule with the elbow joint but plays no functional role at the
elbow.[

The elbow joint and the superior radioulnar joint are enclosed by a single fibrous capsule. The capsule is
strengthened by ligaments at the sides but relatively weak in front and behind.[8]

On the anterior side the capsule consists mainly of longitudinal fibres. However, some bundles among
these fibers run obliquely, thicken and strengthen the capsule, and are referred to as the capsular
ligament. Deep fibres of the brachialis muscle insert anteriorly into the capsule and act to pull it and the
underlying membrane during flexion in order to prevent them from being pinched.[8]

On the posterior side the capsule is thin and mainly composed of transverse fibres. A few of these fibres
stretch across the olecranon fossa without attaching to it and form a transverse band with a free upper
border. On the ulnar side, the capsule reaches down to the posterior part of the annular ligament. The
posterior capsule is attached to the triceps tendon which prevents the capsule from being pinched
during extension.[8]

Synovial membrane[edit]

The synovial membrane of the elbow joint is very extensive. On the humerus, it extends up from the
articular margins and covers the coronoid and radial fossae anteriorly and the olecranon fossa
posteriorly. Distally, it is prolonged down to the neck of the radius and the superior radioulnar joint. It is
supported by the quadrate ligament below the annular ligament where it also forms a fold which gives
the head of the radius freedom of movement.[8]

Several synovial folds project into the recesses of the joint.[8] These folds or plicae are remnants of
normal embryonic development and can be categorized as either anterior (anterior humeral recess) or
posterior (olecranon recess).[9] A crescent-shaped fold is commonly present between the head of the
radius and the capitulum of the humerus. [8]
On the humerus there are extrasynovial fat pads adjacent to the three articular fossae. These pads fill
the radial and coronoid fossa anteriorly during extension, and the olecranon fossa posteriorly during
flexion. They are displaced when the fossae are occupied by the bony projections of the ulna and radius.[